Trip Length: | 2 days, 1 night |
Start: | Taumarunui |
Finish: | Stratford |
Best time to visit: | November to March, Spring and Summer. The weather could be changeable. Clothing layers are recommended. |
Trip Length: | 2 days, 1 night |
Start: | Taumarunui |
Finish: | Stratford |
Best time to visit: | November to March, Spring and Summer. The weather could be changeable. Clothing layers are recommended. |
Podocarp forest, waterfalls, rivers, landscapes, bird life and off the beaten track. Regional New Zealand in a forested green wrap, complete with tourism on rails. A podocarp forest is part of the conifer family, think of cones looking like berries. The forest has an understorey of ferns, shrubs and grasses in every shade of green.
The remote timeless forest reminds the viewer we are looking at remnants of Gondwana land. Dinosaur territory definitely. The road follows original Maori walking tracks converted into colonial bridle paths formed in the late nineteenth century. The road hugs the mountainous contours providing an adventure as you are not sure what is exactly around every corner.
Mt Taranaki at dusk
On the banks of the Mangaroa River, on a side road is Ohura. Your journey starts with an exploration of a largely abandoned town. The main street is bereft of operating shops. The supermarket, hairdressers, garden centre, general merchandise, cafe and petrol station are all closed, some with fading signs about the option of purchase or rental. After Ohura you rejoin SH43 for spectacular scenery, waterfalls and perhaps one of the worldās narrowest vehicular tunnels.
Abandoned cabin sitting in mowed field
Ohura
Ohura to SH43
Mt Damper Falls
Tangarakau Gorge
Ghost town
Whangamomona
Wangamomona Hotel
Explore Whangamomona district. Hotel reception will be able to provide excellent up to date information. Do not miss the abandoned Catholic church just before the campground on Whangamomona Rd which starts by the hotel. The walk has pastoral and river views. You are walking on a paper road, closed to traffic. Walk past the pub on Whangamomona Rd, past the campground; this paper road is open to the public and provides a 55km loop of pastoral walking, cycling or motorcycling.
Whangamomona @New Zealand Geographic
Experience Purangi
Whangamomona Saddle
Makahu Tunnel
Kiore Tunnel
Bridge to Somewhere
Closed railway track Ohura district, New Zealand